Port Gibson, MS

Date(s): May 1, 1863

Location: Please click on link below for map.

Campaign: Grant's Operations against Vicksburg [1863]

Battles in Campaign:

• Grand Gulf, MS - April 29, 1863 C

• Snyder's Bluff, MS - April 29-May 1, 1863 D¹

• Jackson, MS - May 14, 1863 B

• Port Gibson, MS - May 1, 1863 B

• Raymond, MS - May 12, 1863 B

• Champion Hill, MS - May 16, 1863 A

• Big Black River Bridge, MS - May 17, 1863 B

• Vicksburg, MS - May 18-July 4, 1863 A

• Milliken's Bend, LA - June 7, 1863 C¹

• Goodrich's Landing, LA - June 29–30, 1863 D¹

• Helena, AR - July 4, 1863 B

Situation:

Commanders:

• Union: Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant  

• Confederate: Brig. Gen. John S. Bowen

Principal Forces:

• Union: Army of the Tennessee (comprising two corps)

• Confederate: Confederate forces in area (one reinforced division: four brigades)

Description:

• Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant launched his march on Vicksburg in the Spring of 1863, starting his army south, from Milliken's Bend, on the west side of the Mississippi River.

• Grant planned to cross the river at Grand Gulf, but the Union fleet was unable to silence the Confederate big guns there.

• Grant then marched farther south and crossed at Bruinsburg on April 30th.

• Union forces came ashore, secured the landing area and began marching inland by late afternoon.

• Advancing on the Rodney Road towards Port Gibson, Grant's force ran into Confederate outposts after midnight and skirmished with them for around three hours. The fighting stopped after 3:00 am.

• Union forces advanced on the Rodney Road and a plantation road at dawn. At 5:30 am, the Confederates engaged the Union advance and the battle ensued.

• The Federals forced the Confederates to fall back.

• The Confederates established new defensive positions at different times during the day but they could not stop the Union onslaught and left the field in the early evening.

• This defeat demonstrated that the Confederates were unable to defend the Mississippi River line and the Federals had secured their beachhead. The way to Vicksburg was open.

Slide Presentation: None

Classification²: B

Casualties³:

• Union: 861

• Confederate: 787

Results: Union Victory

Battlefield Website:

•  Grand Gulf Military Park

Recommended Resources:

¹ National Park Service summary.

² Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

³ Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 01/02/2009